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Kordu Tools
Developer Tools Runs in browser Updated 30 Mar 2026

Cron Expression Generator

Build cron expressions visually or decode any cron string into plain English with next run previews.

Cron expression

* * * * *
every minute · every hour · every day of month · every month · every day of week

Next run times

23 Apr 2026, 12:53:00
23 Apr 2026, 12:54:00
23 Apr 2026, 12:55:00
23 Apr 2026, 12:56:00
23 Apr 2026, 12:57:00
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How to use Cron Expression Generator

  1. Configure each field

    Use the visual builder to set the minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week fields. Each field supports every, specific values, a range, a step interval, or a comma-separated list.

  2. Read the plain-English description

    As you adjust the fields, a human-readable description updates live — for example, 'At 09:00 on every Monday in January'.

  3. Preview the next run times

    Check the next 10 scheduled execution times calculated from your current date and local timezone to verify the schedule is correct.

  4. Paste an existing expression to decode it

    Paste any 5 or 6-field cron expression into the text input. The builder fields update automatically so you can inspect and edit the schedule.

  5. Copy the expression

    Click Copy to copy the generated cron expression to your clipboard, ready to paste into your crontab, CI/CD pipeline, or scheduling library.

Cron Expression Generator FAQ

What cron format does this tool use?
The tool supports the standard 5-field POSIX format (minute, hour, day of month, month, day of week) used by Linux crontab and most job schedulers, plus the extended 6-field format with a leading seconds field used by node-cron, Quartz, Spring, and AWS EventBridge.

Are the next run times accurate?
Yes. Run times are calculated forward from the current date and time using your browser's local timezone, iterating until 10 matches are found. Calculation is fully client-side.

What do the special characters mean?
* means every value. , separates specific values (1,15 for the 1st and 15th). - defines a range (9-17 for hours 9 to 17). / defines a step (*/5 means every 5 units). L (in day-of-month) means the last day of the month.

Can I use this for AWS EventBridge or CloudWatch cron?
Yes. AWS EventBridge uses a 6-field cron format. Switch to 6-field mode to include the seconds field, then paste the expression directly into your EventBridge rule or CloudFormation template.

How do I run a job every 5 minutes?
Set the minute field to */5 and leave all other fields as *. The resulting expression is */5 * * * *, which means 'at minute 0, 5, 10, 15... of every hour every day'.

Can I paste an existing cron expression to decode it?
Yes. Paste any valid 5 or 6-field cron expression into the text input and the builder will populate each field, show a plain-English description, and calculate the next run times.

Is any data sent to a server?
No. All parsing, generation, and scheduling calculations run entirely in your browser. Nothing is transmitted to any server.

What is the difference between day-of-month and day-of-week?
Day-of-month (field 3) targets specific calendar dates like the 1st or 15th. Day-of-week (field 5) targets specific weekdays like Monday (1) or Friday (5). Setting both restricts execution to matching either condition, depending on your scheduler.

How do I schedule a job at midnight every day?
Use 0 0 * * * — minute 0, hour 0, every day of every month and every weekday. The plain-English description will confirm 'At 00:00 every day'.

Background

Cron Expression Generator lets you build or decode cron schedules without memorising the syntax. Configure each field — minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week — using dropdowns for every, specific values, ranges, step intervals, and lists. The cron expression updates live as you adjust settings, with an instant human-readable translation shown below.

Paste any existing cron expression into the text input to parse it: the builder fields populate automatically so you can inspect and modify the schedule. The next 10 scheduled execution times are calculated from the current date and timezone, helping you verify that the schedule fires exactly when you expect.

Supports both the standard 5-field POSIX crontab format used by Linux/macOS and most job schedulers, and the extended 6-field format with a seconds field used by tools like node-cron, Quartz, and AWS EventBridge. All logic runs in your browser — no data is sent to any server.

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Cron Expression Cheat Sheet: Every Schedule You'll Ever Need

Copy-paste cron expressions for every schedule from every-minute to yearly. 20+ ready-to-use examples with plain-English translations and field reference.